Apron



Jan. 11, 1938. F, F, HORT 2,105,322

APRON Filed DGO, 18, 1956 WITNEssEs' INVENTOR FlorenceFHort 75 BY A'ITORNEYS Patented Jan. 1l, 1938 s'm'ras PATET OFFRE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in aprons and has particular relation to that type of apron commonly referred to as a tea apron.

Aprons of this character heretofore in use have been highly unsatisfactory in that the shoulder straps were unsightly and a particular source of annoyance, having a tendency to slip off the shoulder of the wearer unless pins or other unsightly and troublesome fastening devices were employed to hold the straps in proper position.

Furthermore, aprons of this character are almost invariably worn over uniforms. Such uniforms have detached collars so that the uniform and collars may be separately washed and laundered. Such collars after each separate laundering must be and customarily are sewn back onto the uniform and when soiled are ripped on to be laundered. This process is most troublesome: it not only causes the collar to wear out quickly, but unless carefully and skillfully sewn back upon the uniform gives a slovenly and untidy appearance.

It is a particular object of the present invention to overcome the difficulties heretofore encountered in regard to the shoulder straps of aprons and to provide an improved tea apron without shoulder straps but with straps which encircle the neck instead and which will fit the wearer properly and neatly and remain in proper position without the aid of pins or other devices.

It is a further particular object of the present invention to overcome the diiliculties heretofore encountered in regard to detachable collars upon uniforms over which aprons of this character are customarily worn by providing an apron with a collar permanently attached to such apron, thus avoiding the use of any collar whatsoever' on the uniform, thereby not only giving a neat and pleasing appearance but also avoiding the trouble and annoyance of ripping off and resewing the collars upon the uniforms and thereby also saving wear and tear and providing a combination of apron and collar in one piece which is easily laundered and avoids likelihood of loss of the co1- lar which is frequently the case where the collar requires to be separately laundered.

For a fuller understanding of the invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. l shows a maid wearing a tea apron embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front View of the apron, and

Fig. 3 is a view of the upper portion of the apron and the lower portion of the neck-encircling bands, with the outer band folded back to more fully disclose the construction of the apron.

My apron may be applied to .aprons of various sizes and shapes, but is particularly applicable to tea aprons. 5

In the accompanying drawing I have shown the invention as embodied in a tea apron having a bib portion I6, which is adapted to depend downwardly over the front of the wearer in the usual manner as shown in Fig. 1, a belt I I which is adapted to encircle the central portion of the wearer, and neck-encircling bands or straps I2 and I4.

The bib portion consists of a panel I5, having tapered converging lower edges I5 to which is secured, as by lines of stitching, the border strips 15 Il. The panel I5 also has converging tapered edges I8 extending upwardly from the converging lower edges I6, and decorative bands or strips I8 similar to the bands I'I are also secured thereto as by lines of stitching. In this way a generally diamond-shaped bib portion I0 is formed.

Secured to the bib portion or formed integral with the bands I9 as shown, are the shoulder straps or bands I2 and I4, which are of sucient length to extend upwardly in the manner indicated from adjacent the top of the apron and encircle the neck of the wearer so as to aid in holding the apron in position. Adjacent the top of the apron the band I4 crosses over the band I2 as indicated at 28, and the band I4 at this point vis free from attachment to the band I2, so that the bands may shift relative to each other, as most clearly brought out in Fig. 3 where the band or strap I4 is folded forwardly away from the strap l2.

Adjacent the point where the straps or bands I2 and I4 encircle the neck of the wearer, the straps are formed with inwardly and downwardly projecting flaps 2|, which are adapted to be inserted inside the collar or neckband of the garment of the wearer when the apron is assembled in the manner shown in Fig. 1. At the back of the wearer the flaps 2| and a portion of the body of the bands I2 and I4 are joined together as by means of stitching as shown at 22. However, the lower portions of the ends of the bands I2 and I4 are preferably free from attachment as shown at 23, so as to permit flexing or adjusting of the relative positions of the two flaps without wrinkling or disturbing the appearance thereof. 50

If desired, an ornamental border, such as a strip of lace or the like, indicated at 24, may be stitched or otherwise secured around the edge of the bib portion and around the edges of the bands I2 and I4 as shown. The belt II is stitched or 55 otherwise suitably secured to the bib portion as indicated, so as to encircle the wearer adjacent the waist.

In putting on the apron, the head of the wearer is inserted through the head opening provided between the neck bands or straps I2 and I 4. It will be seen that due to the fact that the straps I2 and I4 are free from attachment at the point 20 and also at the point 23, the size of the opening between the straps can be expanded to a considerable size, thereby making it relatively simple to insert the head through the opening. The bands I2 and I4 are then adjusted so as toit snugly around the neck of the wearer, as shown in Fig. 1, and the flaps 2| are inserted inside the neckband of the garment of the wearer. The bib portion is then properly adjusted at the front of the wearer and the ends of the'beltr I I tied around the wearer in the usual manner.

It will be seen that the fact that the two bands I2 and I4 cross each other at the point 20, tends to hold the bands I 2 and I 4 snugly about the neck of the wearer preventing the bands from spreading and from inadvertently slipping oi the shoulders of the wearer, II'he flaps or turned down collar portion 2l inserted beneath the neckband of the garment of the wearer also holds the shoulder straps in proper position, and, furthermore, causes the bands I2 and I4 to serve as a collar giving a neat, trim appearance to the apron.

It should be understood that modifications may be made in the illustrated and described embodiment of my invention, such as changing the shape or style of the bib portion ofthe apron. Also the bands I2 and I4 may be formed in one piece rather than two separate pieces joined at the back and whenever the term bands or straps is referred to herein it is to be understood that the term includes a unitary band or strap as well.

Iclaim:

1. In an apron, a bib portion and a pair of neck-encircling members extending upwardly from adjacent the top of the bib portion so as to cross over each other and extend upwardly a diverging angles, said members being free from connection at the points of crossing and being connected together for only a portion of the distance of their width at their ends so as to be adjustable to Various sizes, and said members being formed with downwardly depending flaps adapted to be inserted in the neckband of a garment so as to form a unitary collar around the neck of the wearer.

2. In a tea apron, a bib portion, a strap for encircling the waist of the wearer connected to the bib portion, and a pair of neck encircling members extending upwardly from adjacent the top of the bib portion so as to cross over each other andY extend upwardly at diverging angles, said members being free from connection at the point ofcrossing andfsaid members being formed with downwardly depending flaps adapted to be insertedin the neck 'band of a garment so as to provide avcollar around the neck of the wearer.

3. In a tea apron, a bib portion, a strap for encircling the waist of the wearer connected to the bib portion, and a pair of straps extending upwardly from adjacent the top of the bib portion and adapted to encircle the neck of the wearer, said straps being provided with downwardly projecting flaps along their confronting edges adapted to be inserted in the neck band of a. garment so that the straps form a collar around the neck of the wearer.

FLORENCE F. HDRT. 

